Compasses and similar instrument.



PATBNTED FEB. 19, 1907.

C. M. BERNEGAU. UOMPASSES AND SIMILAR INSTRUME APPLICATION IILBD JULY20. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL M. BERN EGAU, OF HOBOKEN, N EW' JERSEY,ASSIGNOR TO THE KEUF FEL & ESSER COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COIVIPASSES AND SIMILAR INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

To (1, 1071/0721 1125 'nwry (IOI'I/IHJILJ Be it known that I, CARL M. BERNEGAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at 110- boken, in the county of I'I11CISOI1 and State of 5 New Jersey, have invented certain new and l usefnl In provements in Compasses and Similar Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to compasses and 10 similar instruments in which legs are pivoted to a handle; and its novelty consists in the means employed to keep the handle centered with respect to the legs without al'l'ecting the free pivotal movement of the latter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of dividers embodying my in vention, a second position of the legs being indicated in dotted oritline. Fig. 2 is an en larged vertical transverse section of the de- 20 vice shown in Fig. 1 throi'gh the handle and rpper part of the legs. Fig. 3 is a separate detailed view of the centering-plate. Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the i pper part of the legs and their heads. Fig. 5 is a side eleva- 25' tion of the rpper part of the pair ol dividers embodying a modified form 01 my invention. Fig. 6 is a view of the r pper part of the legs and their heads of the device shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section throiigh the yoke and heads of the device shown in Fig. when the parts are assembled, and Fig. 8 is a separate detailed view of the cen tering-plate used in the device shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7.

In the drawings, 10 is the handle of the instrument, coni prising the usual fingerpiece 11 and yoke 12, consisting of the crosspiece 13 and the dependent arms 14 and 15. Each of the arms is provided with a screw- 0 pivot 16, adapted to engage a recess formed in the head. Each leg and each pivot is socured in position by a set-screw 17.

and 21 are the legs of the compass, each provided with its respective head 22 and 23. 5 In the form of device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2,

3, and 4 one head is provided with a pivotpin 25 and the other head with a corresponding recess 26, adapted to engage therewith.

is a centering-plate, adapted to be placed between the heads of the legs 20 and 21 and provided with two upwardly projecting guide-ears 31, adapted to embrace and en- P gage with the cross-piece 13 of the yoke 12.

' It is also provided with a central aperture 32 to admit of the passage of the pivot-pin 25 and with a series of other apertures 33 to receive friction-halls 34.

In the form of device illrstrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 2. The centering-plate 30 is placed between the heads 22 and 23 of the legs 20 and 21, the pivot-pin 25 passing throrgh the hole 32 into the recess 26, the ears 31 embracing the cross-piece 13 of the yoke 12, and the balls 34 34 being inserted in the holes 03, the screw-pivot 16 16 being set 11p into proper position and the set-screws 17 17 holding them in place. IVhen so assembled, it will be fOliIHl that while the legs of the compass move readily on their pivot 25 and while the presence of the centering-plate 30 does not illterl ere with said movement, that nevertheless the cars 81 embracing the yoke of the handle 10 has kept this handle srbstantially in a central position with respect to the legs.

In the modified form of the device (illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and. 8) the centeringplate 30 is provided, as before, with the cars 31 and aperture .72 and with one of the holes 33; but in place of the other holes 33 it is provided with two curved slots 300 and 301. The heads of the legs are also modified. As before, the head 22 is rovided with the pivot pin 25 and the heat 23 with the recess 26; but the head 22 is also provided with another pin 201, adapted to engage in the slot 301 of the centeringplate 30, and the head 23 is also provided with a pin 200, adapted to engage in the slot 300 of the centering-plate 30. The purpose of this construction is to limit the movement of the legs positively with respect to the handle. When the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 7, it is obvious that the movement of each leg is limited by its pin engaging with the corresponding slot in the centering-plate.

This device is simple, readily made, does not mar or alter the usual appearance of the instrument, and serves its purpose well.

What I claim as new is 1. An instrument of the character described comprising a handle, a centeringplate stationary with relation thereto provided with a round central aperture and slots concentric with relation to the central aperture, legs pivotally mounted in the central aperture and in the handle, and pins projecting from said legs into said slots.

2. An instrument of the character described comprising in combination a handle provided with yoke-arms, a pair of legs pivotally mounted between said arms, a centering-plate mounted between said legs and held stationary with relation to the handle, said plate having a central aperture and a hole at a distance therefrom, a pivot projecting from one of the legs through the central aperture, and a ball in the other hole bearing against the inner faces of the legs.

3. An instrument of the character de scribed comprising, in combination, a handle having yoke-arms, legs mounted between I said arms, pivotal screws passing through the arms and engaging in the outer surfaces of the legs, a centering-plate between the legs held stationary with relation to the handle and provided with a central aperture and slots concentric therewith, a pivot-pin projecting from one leg througn the central aperture and into the other leg, and ins projecting from the inner faces of the egs into the concentric slots.

4. A device of the character described comprising a centering-plate provided with guide-ears adapted to embrace the handle of a compass and having a central round aperture adapted to compass-legs having projecting pins, a central pivot, and pivotally receive the leg-pivot and a plurality of concentric slots adapted to engage withpins on the com- 2 pass-legs.

5. In an instrument of the character described, legs, each provided with a suitable head, one having a pivot-pin and the other pins.

tween said heads having a central round aperture to closely receive the pivot-pin and concentric slots to receive said eccentric an instrument of the character de- I scribed, a handle, and legs, each provided I with a suitable head, one having a pivot and the other a recess to receive the same, and each leg having an inwardly-projecting pin eccentrically placed with respect to the pivot, in combination with a centering-plate having a round aperture adapted to permit of the passage of the pivot and concentric slots adapted to receive and engage with the eccentric pins on the legs and having guideears adapted to'embra'ce the handle of said instrument.

7. In a device of the character described, comprising a handle, legs having heads, and a pivot concentrically connecting them, the combination therewith, of a centering-plate provided with means for embracing the handle to keep it in a central position with respect to the legs, holes eccentrically located with relation to the pivot of the legs, and balls loosely seated in said holes and proj ecting laterally therefrom into contact with the inner faces of the'heads of the legs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' CARL M. BERNEGAU. IVitnesses:

MAY HUGHES, ALAN IVIGDONNELL. 

